Winter is long and the sidewalks are disgusting in Montreal in January. The slush, icy patches and patchy weather can be winter-weary for city dwellers – and we’ve still got a few months to go.
The best way to reconcile ourselves to the cold and snow is to go skiing – and one of the region’s most beautiful ski resorts (for sports enthusiasts and romantics alike) is only a 1h20 drive from Montreal. Okay, with traffic, it might be a bit more-but it’s worth it, isn’t it?
Skiing, hiking and the great outdoors– Mont Orford
With ski lessons, a snowpark, altitude trails and plenty of black diamonds for the more athletic, Mont Orford has something for everyone. The summits offer a truly unrivalled view of the gentle hills of the Eastern Townships.
What’s more, you can also go hiking (with crampons for hire at the entrance) or cross-country skiing at Parc National du Mont Orford, one of the 26 national parks governed by Sépaq, which makes access to a conserved and protected – and increasingly rare – natural environment extremely easy.
For more info and equipment rental rates, visit the Parc National du Mont Orford website!
We also recommend
for a hot chocolate, a lakeside stroll and a burger in the small town of Magog…
Where? Mont Orford, 4380 Chemin du Parc, Orford
How far is it from Montreal? 1h20 by car
Website? montorford.com
How do I get there (without a car)?
To get to Mont Orford, you can use the NANA (Navette Nature). This bus, dedicated to improving sustainable eco-tourism mobility and accessibility to nature, has been making the round-trip between Quebec’s major cities and mountains for several years now.
From Montreal, 18 “nature destinations” are listed on their website, and new ones are added every winter. NANA has partnerships with municipal nature sites, Parks Canada, SEPAQ and PARQ.
It will be visiting Mont Orford on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Ski touring with Les Filles du Nord
Les Filles du Nord is a group of girls who love spending time outdoors, in the great outdoors.
Camping, hiking, yoga – they’ve built an all-girl community to enjoy and explore Quebec’s great outdoors among girls.
And, in winter, Filles du Nord’s outings are on skis (rando) and in groups. And, of course, on one of Quebec’s most beautiful mountains.
📸 @jordan.hamelin
Les Filles du Nord will be visiting Mont Orford 4 times this winter for some great girls’ ski touring.
Dates for the Filles du Nord ski tours of Mont Orford in 2026;
- January 24 (afternoon)
- February 5 (evening)
- February 19 (evening)
- March 5 (evening)
Tickets are not yet available on their website, but the day-long ski tours organized by Filles du Nord average around $20 per person.
Reservations can be made on the Filles du Nord website, here: fillesdunord.ca.
Enjoy the ride!